WSL to expand to 14 teams in 2026-27 with new promotion/relegation play-off
A proposal put forward by Nikki Doucet, chief executive of Women's Professional Leagues Limited, was voted through at Monday's WSL Football shareholders meeting.
It requires the approval of the Football Association board but, if it gets the green light, 14 teams will compete in the women's top flight from next year. It means the 2025-26 campaign WSL will conclude with a relegation/promotion play-off.
'Over the past few months, WSL Football has led a thorough and robust, consultative process backed by research and analysis which explored multiple options that could drive the game forward and help it reach its potential,' Doucet said.
An update on the structure of #BarclaysWSL and #BarclaysWSL2 for the 2025-26 season 🏆
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) June 16, 2025
'Our priority was to find a route that would benefit the whole women's game pyramid, and we believe this next evolution of women's professional football will raise minimum standards, create distinction and incentivise investment across the board.
'Subject to the approval from the FA board, expanding the BWSL to 14 teams will stimulate movement between leagues and through the pyramid which increases opportunities.
'The introduction of a promotion/relegation play-off creates distinction for the women's game and introduces a high-profile, high-stakes match.'
If the expansion from a 12-team WSL to 14 gets FA approval, it offers three Women's Championship clubs the chance to gain promotion during the 2025-26 campaign.
The top two of the Championship will go up automatically and the third-placed side will take on the team which finished bottom of the WSL in a play-off.
We're not just a league. We're a movement.
This is the new era of Women's Super League Football.#BarclaysWSL #BarclaysWSL2 pic.twitter.com/Oycxqv1g1f
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) May 12, 2025
The Championship will continue as a 12-team league with 'additional promotion opportunities' from the FA Women's National League Northern and Southern Premier Divisions at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
'The method for these promotions, and any impact further down the pyramid, will be confirmed by The FA in due course,' a WSL Football statement read.
It means from the 2026-27 season, the 14th-placed team would be relegated and replaced by the winner of the Championship.
A relegation/promotion play-off between the 13th-placed club in the WSL and Championship runner-up would then determine the final place in the top-flight.
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